Page 393 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

FINCHES
Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae Species Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Hawfinch large yellow-brown pale tawny
brown cap
bill (blue and black
in summer)
large
head
broad buff-white
wingbar small black
bib
wing greyer grey
than male nape
MALE
(SUMMER)

FEMALE
bright to dull
IN FLIGHT tawny brown MALE
body (WINTER)
scaly back
bars beneath

broad, clear white
JUVENILE tip to short tail
n much of Europe, this is one of the most
Ielusive finches, but in southern Europe it can be remarkably
approachable, even in suburban trees and orchards or clumps of
cherries or olives. It is not, even then, very obvious, but can be
located by its quiet, clicking calls.Where the Hawfinch is more FLIGHT: strong, fast, direct, swooping with undu-
typically shy, it may provide little more than a glimpse as it flies lations and bursts of powerful, whirring wingbeats.
up through trees and away over the canopy. SEED CRUSHER
It may sometimes be seen perched high on The big bill of the Hawfinch deals
treetops, its size and stocky build then unlike easily and neatly with small seeds
other finches except for the Crossbill. and can cope with tough stones
VOICE Call Robin-like, short, sharp, metallic of cherries and olives.
tik or tzik, thin tzree, tikitik; weak, unmusical,
scratchy song.
NESTING Nest of twigs, roots, and moss, lined
with rootlets, in old tree; 4 or 5 eggs; 1 brood;
April–May.
FEEDING Mostly takes large tree seeds, berries,
cherries, and other fruit stones from trees; also
picks hornbeam, sycamore, beech, and other
seeds from ground in late winter.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread but very localized,
CHAFFINCH 32; CROSSBILL similar shape BULLFINCH 32; breeding in deciduous woodland,
see p.380 on high perch; large white
see p.392 rump; small parks, large gardens, orchards,
see p.390 bill and olive groves. In winter, in
smaller bill
similar places with plentiful tree
double different seeds. Absent from Iceland,
wingbar colour Ireland, and N Scandinavia.
slim Seen in the UK
tail
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 18cm (7in) Wingspan 29–33cm (11 1 ⁄2 –13in) Weight 48–62g (1 11 ⁄16 –2 1 ⁄4oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan 2–5 years Status Secure
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